It's Already the End of November?!!!

Yikes! It is November 29th today! 
We had a wonderful time over the last couple of weeks since I last blogged. We had a great time at the Cattle Convention and an even better time in Jackson if only for two days.  We ended up meeting Lori, Brad and family and the Tribes in the afternoon at Bubba's for a late lunch/early dinner and then took Todd shopping that afternoon for his 13th birthday. I can't tell you what a thrill it was to have all the kids come running when they saw us and especially for Todd to come unprompted to take my arm to help Grandpa help me  across the street, up the stairs and into Bubba's. And that's the way it was the whole time we were together. He was always there to help me in and out of the truck (if Grandpa didn't beat him!), take our belongings up and down the condo stairs and to help me on the slick steps. What a wonderful young man he is and how we love him! We told him he could go look for anything he wanted for this special birthday and we were surprised that he chose to go to Jack Dennis and look for some additional camping equipment for his scout outings. He ended up purchasing a fancy water bladder with pockets to hold other necessities on day hikes and a pretty high-tech compass. Pretty great choices for a 13-yr-old boy, I would say. Thank you, Todd, and we love you so much! We spent Wednesday evening visiting with Brad and Lori at our condo and then joining the whole group at Brad and Lori's condo. It was so fun to discuss the gospel and the handbook with them. Brad was recently ordained and set apart as Bishop of their ward in Rupert. We know he will do a great job because he is not afraid to take the sometimes very painful steps necessary to depart from generation-old traditions which are not in keeping with church policy. He has that beautiful combination of a great love for the members of the ward and a great love for doing things the Lord's way realizing that there are tremendous blessings that result from strict obedience. He is a good man and Lori will be a tremendous support to him.
We packed up Friday morning to come home (in a big snowstorm) and were so grateful we had decided to bring the truck. It took us a long time to get home but we made it safely thanks to my husband's driving skills. But he freely admits he detests driving on bad roads and in nasty conditions and will avoid it at every cost! We are not as young as we used to be and are certainly more cautious!

Anyway, we unpacked and headed to Brigham City to see Mom Rose in her new "home". We were surprised and VERY HAPPY to see how well she is doing and the progress she has made in just the last few days. She is capable of walking even without a walker, but she is supposed to use it! Just ask Grandpa! She recognized us and seems to be regaining at least some of her memory. The hallucinations and paranoia are gone, truly gone! We know that she was having panic attacks because she was unable to breath properly and the medicine prescribed to her for those attacks was causing her mental anguish. I just shudder to think what she has been through but am ever more grateful for those caregivers who realized she had a problem and got to the bottom of it. We have our dear Mom Rose back. Yes, she still has a form of dementia and gets very confused, but she is pleasant and happy most of the time and realizes that she is getting good care. Our hope is that if it is Heavenly Father's will that she can again return to Park Valley, her home. But that certainly remains to be seen.

I love this picture!

After a good long visit with Mom and Dad and some of the rest of the family, we headed to Tremonton for Natalie's reception. It was great to see the Jex family again! They will always be dear friends! Natalie looks so happy! It was a dicey drive home as far as Malad and then not too bad from there.
Saturday was Kate's ballet! What a beautiful little ballerina she is! The Hansel and Gretel ballet was so professional...amazing sets and gorgeous costumes! Kate was a town's girl and a ghost this year. I'll post the pictures I was able to get. We love this little girl so much...Katie Bug with her beautiful red hair and sweet, caring personality...Katie with her love for stuffed animals and dolls, Polly Pockets and Littlest Pet Shop...a little "red-bird"  with a twinkle in her eye and a smile that melts our hearts...a beauty with a talent and definite love for ballet!

Isn't she lovely?